What if you lose a bunch of weight during 6 mos supervised diet?

I am really not very far into the process, and have not even met with the surgeon yet -- and have no idea if my ins mandates a 6 mos supervised weight loss plan -- or if all my past efforts will "count" -- but --

What happens if you lose a bunch of weight during this time?  I have lost weight before with programs like Medifast (40 pounds last year!) but it all comes back and it brings some friends with it, that extra weight! So what happens then? 

If you lose, are you deemed a poor candidate for surgery because you are not "that fat" anymore?

If you don't lose, are you deemed a bad candidate 'cause you can't follow a program? 

I know this is on my list of questions for my doctor, but I just wondered if anyone here had faced this issue. 

Cat

I haven't faced that issue, since my BMI was for a SSMO person, but from reading over the last few years, for the most part, they go by your beginning BMI, not after your 6 month diet.  But to be sure double check with both your Dr and your insurance company.

My Dr/insurance company wanted me to lose 5% before surgery, I was close and they were OK with that.  Sometimes I think they just want to make sure you can be compliant.

Cat, it is a catch 22.   I know one insurance company in our area requires a 6mos I can change program, and if the weight is lost, they won't approve the surgery. I guess if you were close,you could load up on water the day of the last weight in, or wear extra heavy clothes.  You could discuss this possiblity with your doctor's office. They might have some additional tips.

Joan

I lost 16 pounds during my 6 month diet... which my surgeon PA said was about average for the patients they have seen.  I lost and gained the same 5 pounds the during the last 2 months.

While I did not lose that much weight this past 6 months ... I did gain some good habits...increased my exercise, drank more water, started taking vitamins, and got off caffine. 

Helen

I lost 60 pounds pre-op.  My insurance company did not even question the amount of weight I had lost.  Because I still had High Blood Pressure problems and a Diabetic that I was still a goood candidate for the surgery.  Take care.  Tracy

Every insurance company is different. Some of them want to see weight loss success in order to approve you, and others want to see failure. Your WLS clinic will know which one your insurance company wants -- just ask them.

I lost 33 pounds in my 6-month pre-period and was just fine.

I was concerned about this during my six month diet, especially because I lost nearly 60 lbs of the 200 I needed to lose! But my PCP, who had done the six-month supervised diet for a number of patients, felt that it was the sort of thing that the insurance company WANTS to see. If you can lose during the six-month supervised diet, you're a good candidate for the surgery, most likely to be compliant and make the most out of it. Because, face it, the insurance company would, if they had a crystal ball, deny all those who turn out to be unsuccessful, and accept all those who ARE successful. Since they don't have a crystal ball, they make you jump through hoops and hope that if you make it you're likely to be successful.

I submitted my own paperwork with the six-month supervised diet, and as a result, I was approved in less than 24 hours!

The stinky part here is that different insurance companies might have different criteria, which makes it insane to try to outguess them. Just do your best, because losing as much as possible pre-op will only make your health going into surgery the best it can possibly be!

To me it seems like there is no 'right' answer.  Half the time I think they just have hoops up that are designed to see who has the stamina to jump through them all....weed out the less dedicated people!  Really!!  I lost and gained the same 15 lbs about three times during my six month time frame.  My doc and I talked about this---I told him that I think it is a mind game...when it came right down to the deadline and I needed to have the lbs off to get my surgeon appt. (they won't even see you if you have not done the mandatory weight loss) I got it off without blinking an eye.  I have lost a total of about 15 and then my MD requires a two week pre-op diet where he expects you will lose another 10....

I was told by the surgeons office that the original BMI is what is ued for the insurance approval. Which makes me feel much better. Cause I am really good at losing weight. Its what happens after that is a big problem!!!!! If I lose more than 40lbs I will be under the BMI that qualifies me. But Now that I know that they use the original BMI, I am not worried about losin too much.